The Romans?
The Jews?
I did.
But it was His idea.
He died for me.
Thank You, Jesus.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
October 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Columbus Day—October 8, 2012
America’s God And Country —–William Federer
This morning I was very privileged to hear Bill Federer share a summary of Columbus’ life and voyages, the way it really happened, from diaries and journals and ship logs.
From Columbus’ personal journal at sea, in search of the new world: “I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and proud, and have revealed them unto babes.” (I would say God honored Columbus for that.) You would be amazed by his other frequent quotes from the Bible.
It is quite different from what is taught, or not taught, in today’s public schools. It is safe to say that most attempts to place Columbus, and the founding fathers of America, in a negative way without God, are simply inaccurate.
The Godly foundation of our country, and even our continent, explains our success—unparalled in history.
The departure from that Godly foundation, will explain our demise.
That does not have to happen—we do not have to parallel history just because everybody else does.
BETTER BABY FAITH (“the parts that are for keeps”)
October 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and proud, and have revealed them unto babes.” —–His Book
“Unless you are converted, and become as little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” —–His Book
A learned theologian and a learned astronomer happened to sit together on a plane flight. After much deep conversation, they each asked the other to summarize the most profound thought they gained in their field.
The theologian said, “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know; for the Bible Tells Me So.”
The astronomer said, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; How I Wonder What You Are.”
I think they both might be candidates for the Kingdom.
HEROES – – – CRIMINALS
October 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Heroes become Criminals. Criminals become heroes.
Victims become villains. Villains become victims.
We’ve lost something. We’re about to lose everything.
The Revolutionary War patriots are heroes—rightly so.
The Boston Tea Partyers are praised for their destructive action that provided the catalyst to win our independence.
Passengers and crew on Flight 93 on 9-11-01 used force and violence and saved hundreds of lives. They were heroes indeed.
Why is anyone who uses force and violence against abortionists—to save innocent lives—why are they criminals?
Even today’s Tea Party folks walk a tightrope to not be called criminals.
“I ONLY REGRET . . . “
October 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you do what’s right,
If you stand for what’s right,
If you stand against evil,
If you act against evil,
You will break somebody’s rules,
You will suffer for it.
Don’t be surprised.
Don’t complain.
“I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” —–Nathan Hale
“YOU DIDN’T BUILD THAT”
October 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I DID TOO BUILD THAT.
JUST THINK WHAT I COULD BUILD IF GOVERNMENT DIDN’T GET IN THE WAY.
X X X – D M Z – X X X
October 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
(inspired by Dan Celia yesterday)
Demilitarized Zone
—in war
—in politics
—in America
—in church
—in future
In war there is a marginal status between a Demilitarized Zone and a No Man’s Land. A DMZ is supposed to be a safe area between sworn enemies who agree to leave you alone there. A NML is a similar area between sworn enemies who agree to not leave you alone there—fair game.
In politics, tonight there is a presidential debate, where some will pretend a DMZ format. It’s America, where we agree to disagree in a civil conversation, and afterward come together for the best interests of the country. That’s the America I grew up in. Not today. We are in a NML worse than any war in our history. Nothing safe. Nothing sacred. If we don’t take out the enemy now, he will laugh, because he couldn’t care less about America.
The church in America has been told we belong in the DMZ. If we stay between their lines, we will be left alone. Don’t offend, don’t fight, don’t meddle.
The spiritual DMZ in this country has a bunch of rules and aka’s:
—freedom of worship, not freedom of religion
—political correctness in the pulpit
—sedated saints are safer
—state approved churches (what country are we in?)
—tolerance (for their way, or the highway)
—follow all the rules of pacifist democracy, and you won’t get hurt
—501c3 or else ACLU
—DMZ shrinks into NML
Is spite of all the outcry of “No Fair,” “You Can’t Do That In America,” the Demilitarized Zone is now the No Man’s Land. And strangely enough, Christians are the main target—just like old times of the first century.
The zone between the lines becomes a line, a fence to straddle.
The devil owns the fence.
“Because you are lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” —–Jesus said that, to the church.
(Europe had it and lost it, for the same above reasons.)
YOU CAN DO IT – – – WHEN YOU HAVE TO
October 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Another frog and duck story (even though you’ll see this story first)
The other was about two ducks and a frog. This one is about two frogs and a duck.
Two small frogs were crossing a muddy road with very deep ruts. One frog made it across—the other fell into a rut and couldn’t get out. So the first frog went for help (I don’t know what “help” looks like for a little frog).
When the first frog was on his way back with “help,” he met the other frog halfway home.
“How did you do that? I thought you couldn’t jump out.”
“You see, a truck came along, and I had to.”
(Someone will have to ask the obvious question, and I will answer it.)
“MINE”
October 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Two ducks and a frog were best friends at a pond.
The pond dried up.
The ducks could fly to another pond.
The frog could not.
Solution.
They were on their way to the new pond (all three of them).
The two ducks held a stick in their beaks.
The frog held on between.
A farmer saw them passing overhead.
He asked, “Whose idea was that?”
The frog said, “MINE.”
You might tell the story when you’re tempted to boast.
VOLUNTARY / MANDATORY
October 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“You shall have no other gods before me.”—–mandatory
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”—–mandatory
He said “shall,” not “should.”—–mandatory
“Choose you this day whom you will serve.”—–voluntary
“You must be born again.”—–mandatory
“Follow Me“—–mandatory
“If you confess Jesus is Lord, you will be saved.”—–voluntary
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, . . .”—–voluntary
“. . . but he who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven.”—–mandatory
“Husbands, love your wives.”—–mandatory
“Wives, submit to your husbands.”—–mandatory
“Children, obey your parents.”—–mandatory
“You shall eat the fruit of every tree in the garden . . . “—–mandatory
“. . . but you shall not eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden.”—–mandatory
From day one God gives lots of mandatory instructions (whether we like it or not), with one universal exception. If you don’t like the way God set it up and explained it in the Bible, you do have a way out—very simply:
God does not override free will—voluntary
BUT,
He just has the last word, in everything.—–mandatory
And one more thing—suppose you want to be part of God’s people, but still want the option to do your own thing. We can never sidestep or outsmart the “IF‘s” in the Bible, even if we are a part of His people.
“IF MY PEOPLE, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN I WILL hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”